⭕ Round & Round 🌀
There's something rather wonderful about the humble circle. It's one of the first shapes we learn to draw, yet it can lead us in so many unexpected directions.
In this topic, we're exploring Round & Round, discovering how circles, curves and spirals appear in art, nature, photography and everyday life.
From tiny details to enormous galaxies, the world is full of shapes that turn, twist, ripple and repeat. Sometimes we only need to look a little closer to notice them.
Circles in Art
Artists have long been fascinated by circles, not simply as shapes, but as ways of expressing colour, movement, harmony and emotion.
Wassily Kandinsky explored the relationship between colour and form in his abstract paintings. In Several Circles (1926), circles of different sizes and colours appear to float against a dark background. Some overlap, others seem to glow, creating an impression of movement and depth.
Robert Delaunay also explored circular forms, using contrasting colours to create rhythm and energy. Meanwhile, Hilma af Klint incorporated circles, spirals and geometric patterns into paintings that explored spiritual ideas and the unseen world.
Nature's Wonderful Patterns
Nature is full of circles and spirals, from the delicate curl of a snail's shell to the unfurling fronds of a fern.
Look closely at a sunflower and you'll discover an extraordinary arrangement of seeds. The spiralling patterns help pack seeds efficiently into the flower head, and their arrangement is often associated with the Fibonacci sequence, a mathematical pattern found in many natural forms.
Then there are the circular ripples spreading across a pond, the rings of a tree trunk and the intricate markings on butterfly wings.
Even a fingerprint has its own fascinating arrangement of loops, arches and whorls.
And, of course, circles can be delicious too! Think of sliced oranges, cinnamon buns, swirled icing or a beautifully decorated pancake.
Inspiration really can be found almost anywhere.
A Little Photography Magic
Have you ever noticed the soft, glowing circles that sometimes appear in photographs, particularly when lights are out of focus?
This effect is known as bokeh, a Japanese word associated with blur.
Photographers use shallow depth of field to create beautifully softened backgrounds, where points of light can appear as luminous circles.
There's another curious connection between circles and photography. Although camera lenses are circular, the photographs we take are usually rectangular.
That's because the camera sensor records a rectangular portion of the circular image projected by the lens.
Watercolour artist Paul Clark has found a lovely way to recreate the appearance of bokeh using paint. By gently lifting colour through a circular stencil, he creates soft, glowing shapes that add atmosphere and depth to his artwork.
His colourful watercolour seahorse is a wonderful example, combining a recognisable creature with a playful background of overlapping circles.
Paul has also generously shared his painting tutorial, which you can watch here:
Remember Spirograph?
For some of us, the mention of circles brings back memories of Spirograph!
First marketed in 1965, this clever drawing toy uses toothed wheels and rings to produce intricate repeating patterns.
What makes it so fascinating is that the finished designs are created through movement. A pen follows the turning wheel, gradually building beautiful loops, curves and overlapping shapes.
It's a lovely example of mathematics meeting creativity, although most of us were probably too busy enjoying ourselves to think about the calculations!
You don't need a Spirograph set to experiment. Try drawing around a cup, tracing different-sized circles or repeating a simple curved line. You might be surprised by what develops.
It's a wonderful reminder that mathematics and creativity are often more closely connected than we imagine!
Let's Get Creative!
For our Round & Round session, there are plenty of directions to explore:
🎨 A Little Spin on Things: Create spirals, repeated circles or Spirograph-inspired patterns.
🎨 Caught in the Swirl: Capture the movement of a whirlpool, galaxy, gust of wind or spinning dancer.
🎨 Ripples & Reflections: Experiment with water, bubbles, reflections and soft circular effects.
🎨 An Unexpected Twist: Follow a winding path, curling staircase or twisting line into an imaginary world.
🎨 Through the Looking Glass: Imagine what you might discover through a camera lens, telescope, magnifying glass or porthole.
🎨 Anything Goes!: Begin with one circle and see where your imagination takes you!
There's no right or wrong way to interpret our theme. You might choose drawing, painting, collage, photography or something completely different.
Perhaps the most interesting thing about a circle is that it has no obvious beginning or end. One idea can lead to another, and before we know it, we've discovered something unexpected.
So, where will your imagination take you?
Join us for All4Art on Wednesday 14 October 2026, from 7:30–9:00 pm (UK time).
Everyone is welcome, whatever your experience or ability.
Join us here select All4Art using this link:
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